1 How to activate the link

Make sure you are using a supported version of RSA – updates are published in the BIM section

IDEA StatiCa automatically integrates the BIM link into your CAD/CAE software during its installation. You can check the status and activate more BIM links for later installed software in the BIM link installer.

Open IDEA StatiCa and navigate to the panel BIM and open the BIM link installer. A notification "Run as administrator" may appear, please confirm with the Yes button.

Select the software to integrate the IDEA StatiCa BIM link, click the Install button and check the Installed status.

2 How to use the link

In Robot Structural Analysis, the link should be automatically integrated. We can find it in the top ribbon under Add-Ins – IDEA StatiCa – Connection. This button will open the Design Manager.

For the first exported connection, select it with all the corresponding members in Robot and open the Design Manager (Add-Ins – IDEA StatiCa – Connection). Select the code you want to use. In this example, EN was chosen. An export wizard opens automatically. We press Next.

We select the bottom column member, set it as Bearing and merge column members by OK button. We continue with Next button.

We can adjust the properties of the load cases here. Then we continue with Next.

In this step, we can see all the combinations with corresponding load cases created in Robot Structural Analysis. We can also create a new combination. We don’t have to change anything here.

In the last step, we can check all the combinations that will be considered for export to IDEA Connection. To speed up the calculation in this tutorial, we erase all the combinations except the most critical ULS100.

Finish the BIM wizard.

Automatic data transfer is started and IDEA StatiCa Connection with generated project is launched. All members and load effects were added automatically.

3 Geometry

The geometry of the connection has been imported. We can see all the members with the proper orientation and cross section.

4 Load effects

The load (combination ULC100) has been imported from Robot Structural Analysis.

5 Design

We will define a set of manufacturing operations to model connections between members.

We can start by the connection of horizontal member B411. We use the right-click on the member to open the menu. There, we select Connect to… option.

To connect it to the vertical member B1706 (column), we select it by the mouse click.

That opens the list of predefined templates. We select the end plate option.

And we define the default bolt class and size.

End plate EP1 has been created and we can edit its parameters.

To connect to diagonal, we add a new Operation from the top ribbon – Connecting plate.

CPL1 was added and we edit the parameters.

The shape of the gusset plate can be adjusted in Editor – Gusset plate. We add a bevel on the corner 2.

To copy this operation on the bottom diagonal, we use Copy option from the ribbon above the table and change the member to B1640.

The third diagonal will be connected by a Stub. We add this operation the same way we did before.

We change the default values of the operation STUB1.

Now, we will add two Cuts.

This operation will cut and weld the stub to horizontal member.

We copy CUT1 and change the Cut by to B1706.

The last added operation is the Cleat.

We change the parameters of CLEAT1.

The profile of the cleat is selected from the library.

The connection has been designed. We can proceed to the code check.

6 Check

Nonlinear analysis is started by icon Calculate button in the top ribbon. Analysis model is automatically generated, the calculation is performed and we can check results. We can see directly the overall check in the table in left part of the 3D scene.

All values can be checked in detail in the tables and 2D window. For example, to display check of plates, we select the corresponding tab. We can also activate the icon Equivalent stress and Mesh from the ribbon.

6 Report

7 How to update the project

Sometimes, it is necessary to edit the original model in Robot, e.g. change the cross-section of a member in the joint.

In this case, save and close IDEA StatiCa Connection and unlock the project in RSA. You can see that in the Design Manager, the connection is displayed as designed and calculated. Close the Design Manager.

Now, let’s say we need to change the cross section of beam 351. We substitute HFSHS 180*180*12 by HFSHS 120*120*8. We have to confirm the change of database of structural data.

We open the Design Manager again (Add-Ins – IDEA – Connection). We will Update the model by the button in the top right corner.

The export wizard is opened again. We will not overwrite the existing project and press Next.

We merge the columns by OK button and set them as bearing. We press Next.

To save some computational time, we select only one load case (ULS100) in the last step.

The export of the updated project is finished and we can see that the cross section of the member B351 was changed.